Wire-wheel rim and method of making same



F. R. KLAUS. WIRE WHEEL RIM AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 191.9.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

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FRED R. KLAU'S, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE HYDRAULIC PRESSED STEEL COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, GI-IIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

WIRE-WHEEL RIIVI AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME.

Application filed January 9, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED R. KLAUs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in lVire-VVheel Rims and Methods of Making Same, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates generally to rims or fellies for wire wheels and more particu larly to the method of making the same.

Heretofore it has been usual to roll the sheet metal felly or rim and shape the same into true circular form, and then by means of suitable punches and dies, to provide the requisite number of radially inwardly extending sockets intended to receive the head, nipple, or thimble of the wire spoke.

In producing these sockets, great difliculties have arisen, and it frequently happens that, in shaping such depressions or sockets, a Zone of weakness has been created, usually at the outer edge thereof, and in many instances an actual break has occurred at this point, due to the fact that the metal is stretched to the greatest extent at these points during the socket forming operation, and it frequently happens that although the actual weakness is not apparent to the eye, it becomes apparent when the socket is bored to receive the wire spoke, and even if the existing weakness does not become apparent at this time, it frequently shows up very soon after the wheel has been used and sub jected to tension, and in nearly all instances where a rim weakness has developed, it has been at the marginal edge of the spoke socket, due as before stated to the weakening of the metal at this point. In other words, the metal which is depressed or punched inwardly to provide the spoke socket is unevenly distributed.

Another defect of the rim or felly as at present constructed is that, owing to the uneven stretching or distribution of metal, the edges of the spoke socket are not sharp and uniform.

These defects or points of weakness above outlined result in the discarding of a large number of sheet metal rims or fellies in the manufacture of wire wheels and it is with the object of overcoming these defects or objections that the present method has been Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Serial No. 270,371.

devised, and broadly speaking the invention consists in producing spoke sockets in such a manner that the metal pressed from the rim proper to provide said socket, will be evenly distributed during the pressing formation, thereby avoiding points of weakness and producing uniform sharp edges at the juncture of the socket and rim proper.

The invention also consists in producing in the rim, a socket or depression and in producing a counter-depression in said socket whereby the metal is evenly distributed during the formation of said socket.

The invention consists also in certain de tails hereinafter fully described and set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification Figure 1. is a view showing the cross section of a sheet metal felly or rim before the spoke sockets are punched therein; Fig. 2 is a view showing the method of and means for punching the spoke sockets; Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the completed sheet metal felly or rim; Fig. 1- shows a modified detail; and Fig. 5 shows the rim with spokes connected thereto.

In carrying out my invention, I first shape the sheet metal rim or felly A into true circular form, and although I have illustrated a rim of the D. type, it will be understood that the invention is applicable to all types of rims to which wire spokes B are to be connected. In the circular sheet metal felly or rim, I produce at regular intervals the sockets or depressions C which receive the heads, thimbles or nipples of the wire spokes, and these sockets or depressions can be made all at one time, or separately as preferred.

In the shaping or forming of these sockets or depressions I employ a punch D which engages the outer face of the felly or rim; and die E with which the inner face of the felly or rim is brought into engagement and it will be noted that the end of the punch is curved to correspond with the concavity of the socket or depression to be produced, and it will also be noted that the die E has an outwardly proJecting portion F arranged at the center thereof, preferably conical in form to produce a counter-depression G in the convex side of the socket; and the height and width of this portion F will be determined by the size and shape of the counter-depression desired.

By means of the punch and die constructed as herein shown and described, it has been found that when a socket or depression is produced in the rim, the convexed metal at the center of the socket or depression encountering the projection F within the die, punctures the metal at that point and permits an even or uniform distribution of the metal in the shaping of all the other portions of the depressions. In other words, by producing a counter-depression G in the socket in the convex side thereof the metal is forced inwardly and shaped uniformly, and sharp uniform edges H are produced at the juncture of the socket and rim base.

The counter-depression or perforation G of the socket can extend either part way through, or entirely through the said socket or depression, and if desired the punch and die can be made to not only shape the socket or depression, but also punch a central opening therein and carry off the metal removed, such form of punch and die being shown in Fig. 4E.

The counter-depression or perforation is preferably made at the center of the spoke socket or depression upon the inner face thereof for the reason that such counter depression or perforation will then in no wise interfere with the boring of the hole for the passage of the wire spoke, inasmuch as the opening is always made at the center of the spoke socket irrespective of the inclination of the opening, it being understood that inasmuch as some wire spokes are inclined inwardly, some outwardly, and some straight, it will be necessary to bore the holes according to the line of direction which the spoke to be arranged therein is to assume, and in all instances the boring of the socket would be through the center regardless of the lines of direction, and as before stated, the arrangement of the counterdepression or perforation G at the center of the convexed side of the socket will in no way interfere with the boring of the hole but on the other hand will lend itself to such operation.

It will thus be seen that by putting the counter-depression or perforation into the convexed end of the radial socket depression of the rim, there is no tearing or distorting of the metal at the edge of said socket or depression, but on the other hand a sharp uniform edge is produced and furthermore the spoke socket or depression itself is of uniform thickness except at the point of counter-depression or perforation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The method of making wire wheel rims, which consists in providing a circular rim, producing inwardly extending sockets or depressions in said rim, and producing a counter-depression in each of said sockets or depressions in the convex side thereof.

2. The method of making wire wheel rims, which consists in providing a circular rim, producing in said rim an inwardly ex tending socket or depression, and simultaneously producing a counter-depression or perforation in the inner face of said socket or depression.

3. The herein described method of making wire wheel rims, which consists in providing a circular rim, producing in said rim an inwardly extending cup-like socket or depression, and at the same time centrally parting the metal upon the convex side of said socket or depression whereby the metal of said depression will be evenly distributed during the process of depression formation.

4. The herein described method of making wire wheel rims, which consists in providing a circular rim, producing in said rim an inwardly extending cup-like socket or depression, and sinmltaneously pressing back metal from the center of the convex side of said cup or socket.

5. The herein described method of making spoke sockets in wire wheel rims which consists in forcing the metal of the rim into a suitable shaping die from one direction and simultaneously producing a counter-depression in the convex side of said socket during formation of said socket whereby the metal will be evenly distributed between the die and punch.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

FRED R. KLAUS. 

